“He was targeted by a gentleman that had worked at his residence over the summer,” Godzicki said.

Police suspect Scott Mabrier was the ringleader. Stoll described Mabrier as “kind of a slacker,” and worried about the guy from the beginning.

Godzicki said Mabrier was already wanted, and the detective coordinated with Des Moines' fugitive task force and the U.S. Marshals to find him. When authorities found Mabrier, Godzicki said, he had rare collectible coins in his pocket.

Authorities said they have found about half of Stoll’s coins.

“It’s our understanding that some of the coins were traded for drugs,” Godzicki said.

Stoll said he is happy to get any of the coin collection back.

“And I wasn’t really expecting to get too much of it back at all,” he said.

Mabrier and two other suspects, Michael McFadden and Erich Reints, face first or second degree robbery charges. Detectives are still searching for the rest of the stolen coins, but said those used in drug transactions most likely will never be found.